Therapeutic properties of the phytochemical compounds of the species Cannabis sativa L.: A literature review

Abstract

Brazil is one of the most diverse countries in the world when it comes to its plant species, with about 46,096 plants in more than nine different ecosystems, making it an indispensable area for research involving phytotherapy. Among the species that present therapeutic interests is Cannabis sativa L., which is a shrub from the Moraceae family that contains about 400 compounds, including more than 60 cannabinoids, the best known compounds of this group being tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. Thus, this study aims to investigate which phytochemical compounds are linked to the therapeutic properties of the species Cannabis sativa L. The active compounds, tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and pentacyclic triterpenes are responsible for various therapeutic activities, being mainly linked their mechanisms of action by the affinity to bind to G protein-coupled receptors, CB1 and CB2 present in the membranes of different human cells, having greater affinity for the CB1 receptor, being linked to psychoactive properties. It is believed that the effects of the action of cannabis compounds on the CB2 receptor may provide immunomodulatory effects, such as regulation of cytokine activity, as well as anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic, antimicrobial, analgesic, muscle relaxant, and antioxidant activities. Thus, the literature investigates that the phytochemical compounds, cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol, and pentacyclic triterpenes are primarily responsible for the therapeutic properties of Cannabis sativa L.
Keywords: Cannabis, phytochemical compounds, medicinal plants.